Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

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View our Gender Inclusion Philosophy here

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Vision Statement

More than 50 years ago, Special Olympics launched a global movement to break down barriers and end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) remain at the heart of our movement, as Special Olympics Colorado works to continuously embrace unity and create inclusive communities where everyone belongs. We value, celebrate, and respect varying differences, neurodiversities, backgrounds, and perspectives and know that our continued efforts toward greater diversity and inclusion will enrich our organization and world.

Megan-Scremin

“Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging is at the heart of our organizational strategy. We are proud of the work that has been done by our athletes, and our staff, to expand opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and relish the chance to elevate our inclusion efforts in the years to come.”

– Megan Scremin, Special Olympics Colorado President & CEO

What is Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging?

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Diversity

Diversity is the representation of all our varied identities and differences (race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, tribe, caste, socio-economic status, thinking and communication styles, etc.), collectively and as individuals.

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Equity

Equity seeks to ensure fair treatment, equality of opportunity, and fairness in access to information and resources for all.

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Inclusion

Inclusion builds a culture of belonging by actively inviting the contribution and participation of all people.

Belonging Icon

Belonging

Belonging entails having a voice and the opportunity to participate in and contribute to a community. A community where someone feels safe enough to be their authentic self and build meaningful relationships.

Steering Committee Goals

Diversity Equity and Inclusion is a key priority throughout our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Click here to learn more about our Strategic Plan.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE GOALS

  • Offer opportunities for internal DEI conversations and trainings
  • Provide greater language access to athletes and community members
  • Add community representatives to the DEI Committee
  • Build community relationships with nonprofits and vendors to learn more from their expertise and identify ways in which we can better partner with or serve their constituents
  • Regularly communicate progress updates to our community

GOALS ACCOMPLISHED THUS FAR

  • Created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee that meets bi-weekly
  • Emphasized issues of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, as evidenced by DEI goals and strategies amongst each of our key priorities in the strategic plan
  • Updated staff holiday calendar to include a floating holiday, to recognize and honor the diversity of our team and wide range of backgrounds and traditions
  • Employed two Special Olympics Colorado athletes
  • Elected a Special Olympics Colorado athlete as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors
  • Added a second athlete seat to the Board of Directors and updated board terms to ensure equitability
  • Began translating collateral into Spanish

Meet the Committee

Photo of Athlete Leadership Manager Elizabeth Aslin

Elizabeth Aslin (she/her/hers)

Athlete Leadership Senior Manager

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.” – Vince Lombardi

Sharif Abdelhamid (He/Him/His)

SOCO Board Member

“There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman

Emily Corson (She/Her/Hers)

Development Associate

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind” – Unknown

Jennifer Dormann (She/Her/Hers)

Office Manager

“Happiness depends on the quality of your thoughts” – Marcus Aurelius

Aaron Escamilla (He/Him/His)

Northeast Regional Manager

“Service to others is the rent you pay for the room here on earth” – Muhammad Ali

Johanna Erickson (She/Her/Hers)

Senior Director of Marketing

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana

Hillary Hellesto (She/Her/Hers)

Website & Graphic Design Manager

“Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet.” — Sarah Louise Delany

Ashley Joy (She/Her/Hers)

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Erin Medina (She/Her/Hers)

Chief Strategy Officer

“Love hard. Be Brave.” – Brene Brown

Katy Mittel (She/Her/Hers)

Denver Regional Manager

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo of Senior director of regional services Adrian Mora

Adrian Mora (He/Him/His)

Senior Director of Regional Services

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” – Jackie Robinson

Sam Parker (She/Her/Hers)

Southeast Unified Champion Schools Coordinator

“Diversity in all its forms is the path to greatness.” — James D Wilson

Photo of Special Olympics Staff Member March Petzinger

March Petzinger (She/Her/Hers)

Western Regional Manager

“Bring love wherever you go. Shine light wherever it’s dark. Leave blessings wherever you’ve been. Be kind wherever you are.” – Mary Davis

Megan Scremin (She/Her/Hers)

President & CEO

“There is always a light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman

Maricela Shukie (She/Her/Hers)

Urban Schools Manager

“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Chaka Sutton

Chaka Sutton (He/Him/His)

Chief Outreach Officer
SVP, Sports, Schools and Communities

“When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different in things, we become wiser, more inclusive, and a better team.”  – Unknown

Zeenath Khan (she/her/hers)

Environmental Engineering Graduate Student, University of Colorado Boulder

Liz Krupa

President, Law Office of Elizabeth Espinosa Krupa, LLC

Upcoming Events

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NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

Special Olympics Colorado does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender expression, religion, race, color, creed, political affiliation, marital status, union preference, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, veteran status, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, or other unlawful discrimination.

These activities include, but are not limited to hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers, board members, vendors and provision of services. Special Olympics CO is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, athletes, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors and other constituents and persons served.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

Special Olympics Colorado’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is charged with advancing productive conversations about diversity at Special Olympics and helping to ensure that ours is a community where difference is celebrated and inclusion is our guiding principle.

The DEI Committee works on behalf of and with the staff, board and community at large to heighten awareness of and attention to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. The committee works alongside the organization to change the status quo through the introduction of policies and practices that promote equity, meaningful roles and jobs for athletes, deliver more diverse teams at all levels of the organization and create truly inclusive cultures and environments.

We recognize we have progress to make, and there will be challenges on that journey, however as an organization we are committed to prioritizing this important work in all that we do. Here is an overview of some of the actions taken thus far in order to fulfil our responsibility to our athletes, staff and the community at large.

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